San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-31
SATURDAY, DECEMBER, 81, 1887.
THE LAST DAY HAS COME.

With this issue OF the San Antonio
Daily LIGHT the record OF that journal lie
made up for 1887. When the Monday
paper makes its appearance the New
YEAR will have dawned and new Leaf
turned over in many minds. Loafing
around the door stone OF useless regrets
never availed anything, and those who
cry over the spilled milk of 1887 will
very likely take little better care OF
their pitchers In 1888. The year that
has passed, however, has taught
this city and this state and
this government some valuable les
sons. The city has awakened to the
necessity OF concerted action In it's
own behalf as never before. The
Jealousy Of sectionalism is dying out and
tue broader views of an all-inolusive-
ness Of policy which welcomes every
thing that may benefit the city are CON-
ing into active exercise. The need of ex
treme care In filling the city offices has
also been demonstrated 10 the lack OF
good business methods which character
lie the present city government, and
there are indications that the wants Of
the city and not the aspirations Of mere
politicians will be more fully consider
ed in the future than In the past. So
long as men who have axes to grind
are permitted to thrust themselves in
to public place, so long will public Office
be lily administered and the growing
wants OF the public service be disre-
garded. The city has learned these things
Learned that il is easier TO drive a good
man from Office than to I'LL his place;
learned that Withholding monies from
necessary expenditures is not always
municipal economy; learned that in
functions are easier levied, and streets
torn up and traffic suspended, through
unwise municipal action, than that
such iDjunctions are voided and vested
chartered rights dIsregarded. These are
some of the things that this city has
learned.
The state has learned that 1t costs
more to foot the bills of an incompetent
legislature than to pay salary sufficient
avoid swaddling-oloth legislation such
as characterized the immortal TWEEN
tieth. The state has learned
that the behests Of fanatics are no safe
guide for the policies of a large COM
monweslth; that the public safety and
the interests Of good government are
not conserved by an overw helming and
irresponsible political majority; that the
balances of sound legislation are only
poised when political parties are more
nearly balanced; that the freedom OF the
public conscience can not be Invaded at
will and debauched Of its sense Of right;
that individual liberty is still a sacred
thing and that men consider no sacrifice
too great to insure its perpetuation.
The state has also learned that the old
methods are not always suited to new
conditions, and that the man who would
preserve his new wine must put 1t Into
a new bottle.
The nation has learned that q demo-
cratic national administration is not a
good thing for the industries Of the
people to tie to, ard will make change
during 1883.
III the LIGHT has not learned much 1t
Is not for want Of good advice, and the
same may be said of it's readers. Let
1888 be entered upon with new en-
deavor to make the most of all opportu-
mites that come our way, and it will
add to our wealth OF pocket and of
enrich and enlarge all our
social and intellectual life, make our
city the busiest mart 10 all Texas, fill
BUR homes with peace and our business
hours with prosperity, and face us
.ewards q brighter future thar the old
Alamo City yet has know. Here is a
Happy New Year and prosperous one
% the LIGHT's patrons.
@SS
There is a man 10 the Kansas penlten-
larry who, beginning with q term at
sing Sing years ago, has served his time
10 regular succession In the penitentia-